Baldur's Gate 3 offers two approaches to character creation, offering a selection of pre-designed Origin heroes alongside the ability to design a character from the ground up. Although premade characters have appeared before in the Baldur's Gate series, the implementation found in the newest entry takes more from Divinity: Original Sin 2, the most recent game released by Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian Studios. Deciding between an Origin character and an original creation can be difficult when first starting Baldur's Gate 3, but one option is likely to be the best fit for the majority of playthroughs.

A total of six distinct preset Origin characters appear in Baldur's Gate 3, as well as a seventh Origin option that can apply to custom characters. Each Origin hero belongs to a different playable race and class, offering a number of possible archetypes derived from classic options in Dungeons & Dragons. Origin characters all carry backstories and motivations into the game, offering a distinct focus for roleplaying and unlocking specific story interactions. Using the Dark Urge Origin gives custom characters an equally distinct path, burdening them with an innate impulse for evil.

Related: Baldur's Gate Review In Progress

Custom Characters Are The Best Choice In Baldur's Gate 3

Although the stories that follow Origin characters are compelling, there's no better way to jump into the game than by making a custom Baldur's Gate 3 character. The defining strength of the Baldur's Gate series has always lied in its successful translation of tabletop Dungeons & Dragons freedom to the video game space, and creating a character from the ground up is the best approach to capitalizing on this element. A vast array of customization possibilities make the potential for creativity nearly limitless, and the advantages of selecting an Origin hero don't quite stack up against this liberating path.

Baldur's Gate 3 contains a total of 12 subclasses and 46 subclasses, a selection too vast to be properly represented within the lineup of Origin characters. It's possible to respec Baldur's Gate heroes across the course of a playthrough, but building a character around classes like Druid and Ranger can only be done with a custom character option. The same can be said for the 11 races and 31 subraces, 13 backgrounds, and all of the more personalized aspects of appearance and abilities. With this many labels to choose from and numbers to tweak, ignoring character creation is almost a waste.

The options for personalization in Baldur's Gate 3 extend well beyond the direct limits of stat building and reach into the boundless prospects of roleplaying. The lack of a pre-assigned backstory opens up the freedom of crafting a unique one and drawing a personality anew makes it easier to strike out on a road less traveled when making choices throughout the campaign. Two different players attempting to embody the same Origin hero are likely to have some overlap in approach, while any custom character wipes the slate entirely clean.

Baldur's Gate 3 Character Creation Improve On Divinity's

Divinity: Original Sin 2 tailored its gameplay experience around Origin characters, but Baldur's Gate 3 has fixed some of the disappointing aspects of playing a custom character in Larian Studios' last game. The overarching story in Divinity: Original Sin 2 focused heavily on the Origin heroes, which could make playthroughs with custom builds feel somewhat lacking by comparison. Baldur's Gate 3 repositions most of the narrative elements dealing with pre-made characters to side aspects of the story, eliminating much of the inherent divide between experiences. The inclusion of the Dark Urge Origin also provides a way to bridge this gap while retaining the ability to personalize.

On the fully custom character end, Baldur's Gate 3 also focuses more on the influence that chosen aspects of identity have on the game. More interactions are tweaked depending on race and class, making tailored builds feel like a legitimate part of the world in a similar way to Origin characters. The side narrative approach to the Origin heroes in also makes recruiting these Baldur's Gate 3 companions and watching their stories develop from the sidelines feel particularly rewarding as an original character. This method also allows their personalities to unfold without introducing any of the tension between their innate personalities and a player's own tendencies.

There's No Wrong Way To Play Baldur's Gate 3

Custom characters might be the best way to approach Baldur's Gate 3 overall, but that doesn't mean there's no value to a campaign with an Origin hero. Although none of these characters are central to the story in the way that Geralt is to The Witcher or Commander Shepard is to Mass Effect, each one has a distinct personality and backstory that can provide an interesting draw. These might be more appealing to newcomers unfamiliar with the Baldur's Gate series or tabletop roleplaying games, offering a guiding hand in roleplaying choices and skipping over the agony of getting a custom character just right.

Although Origin characters don't cover many of the races and classes available in Baldur's Gate 3, they do provide a decent range of basic options. From a vampiric elf rogue to a dangerously cursed wizard, each Origin hero offers a completely different experience. The game includes introductions for each of these characters, making it easy to get a basic overview without committing to a choice that might lead to regret. Exploring their individual stories is also a great option for repeat playthroughs of the game, although its significant length of Baldur's Gate 3 means that many fans might stick to one campaign.

Baldur's Gate 3 is all about choice, so it's ultimately no surprise that it offers such a big one up front. There's no wrong answer to the dilemma of Origin heroes versus custom characters, but the latter do ultimately pose more advantages that draw on the strengths of the game. The admittedly slow process of picking through the litany of options for tweaking a build is time that won't go to waste. Although Origin heroes are engaging in their own right, the best way to experience everything that Baldur's Gate 3 has to offer is through the eyes of a custom character.